Chapter 184: Broadcast 2

Time passes second by second. "All compatriots of the nation's military and civilians, and the soldiers of all allied forces:

Japanese pirates attacked our capital, iron hooves trampled the outskirts of Jinling, artillery fire scorched the foothills of Zijin Shan Lu. Since the twelfth day the city walls sounded alarm, Yuhuatai fell in martyrdom, Guanghua Gate bled, my 100,000 garrison youths used flesh and blood as the city, fought the invaders for ten days, annihilated over ten thousand enemies, though casualties were near total, the fighting spirit remained unbroken. Now the enemy has breached the city, streets run with blood, I, as the Nanjing garrison commander, entrusted by the nation and bearing the people's hope, must share the capital's life and death, to repay the world!

I recall the day I received the command, I once swore "When the city stands, the people stand; when the city falls, the people fall." Though the city is now broken, the Chinese soul remains unbroken, the soldiers' will remains undiminished. My subordinate troops either engage in close combat in the streets or block the enemy at the riverbank; though trapped in a desperate situation, they still hold the position to the death. Though the city's civilians suffer devastation, there are still righteous men helping our army transport food and ammunition, preferring death to surrender. Such loyalty and bravery are enough to illuminate the sun and moon, and move gods and ghosts to tears!

I hereby broadcast to the whole nation: Though Jinling has fallen, the anti‑Japanese resistance has not been defeated! May our nation's military and civilians inherit this spirit, forging ahead one after another, with a resolve to die, to resist the enemy pirates and restore the homeland. May our allied soldiers seize the momentum and advance westward, striking directly at the enemy's nest, rescuing the people from fire and water; may our overseas compatriots run and call out, urging the International Community to extend justice.

Today's Jinling, though a scorched earth, tomorrow's China will surely regain its glory! I will lead the remaining troops to hold the final position, fighting to the death. I swear never to surrender, I swear never to retreat!

Respectfully broadcast this, awaiting your scrutiny.

Jinling Garrison Commander Tang Shengzhi

26th year of the Republic, December 13, at noon

The tick‑tock radio waves, bearing this tragic and deceit‑woven dirge, burst through the smoke over Jinling and spread in all directions. After sending the Document, the technicians swiftly destroyed the radio station and the codebooks, scattering and disappearing into the chaotic Nanjing city.

On the afternoon of December 13, at the Jiangcheng National Government, the principal received this "Martyrdom Broadcast" issued in Tang Shengzhi's name. He stared at the Document for a long time, his face revealing no joy or anger. Dai Yunong stood nearby and whispered, "Principal, Tang Mengxiao… is actually on the run… This Document was arranged by Jingxing…"

The principal waved his hand, interrupting Dai Li: "Mengxiao… faced danger without hesitation, heroically martyrized, may be posthumously awarded the rank of Army Special Grade General, with preferential pension." He needs this "hero," needs this tonic to boost national morale, and needs someone to bear the responsibility for the defeat and abandonment of the city. Jingxing's private action, by chance, perfectly satisfied his political needs. As for Tang Shengzhi's true cause of death, it will be forever buried.

At the same time, in Yan'an, Gu Yue, Zhou Ming and other Chinese Communist Party leaders closely monitored Jinling. After receiving the Document, Yan'an's Liberation Daily quickly published an editorial, on one hand highly praising the Jinling defenders, especially the lower‑rank troops, viewing Tang Shengzhi's "martyrdom" as a manifestation of national spirit; on the other hand fiercely condemning the National Government's senior command for mismanagement, chaotic retreat, and neglect of the people, urging the whole nation to learn the lesson, truly achieve a people‑wide anti‑Japanese war, and consolidate and expand the Anti‑Japanese National United Front.

The Jinling Japanese command, the Japanese high command sneered at this broadcast. They clearly knew the grim collapse of the Huaxia Army, considering it merely Chinese propaganda. The excitement of occupying Jinling and the arrogance of "lasting martial fortune" permeated the Japanese ranks. Yet the broadcast's impact on the International Community irritated them, prompting tighter news blockades on Jinling and the planned concealment of even larger atrocities about to be carried out.

At the same time, the New York Times, the Times and other Western mainstream media, while reporting Jinling's fall, also reprinted or quoted this "Tang Shengzhi Martyrdom Broadcast." The tragic language of the Document, intertwined with scattered reports from journalists about chaotic retreats and Japanese atrocities, caused a huge shock in the international public opinion arena.

Among the populace, the broadcast spread nationwide via radio and newspapers, moving countless countrymen to tears and fury. News such as "Commander Tang Shengzhi's heroic martyrdom" and "100,000 soldiers blood‑staining Jinling" greatly ignited a nationwide fervor against the enemy. Although a few informed individuals doubted Tang Shengzhi's actual performance, at the moment of national peril people preferred to believe and retell this tragic heroic narrative, which became a crucial force sustaining national belief in dark times.

At 11 p. m. on December 13, at Xiaguan Dock's Reed Marsh, Li Nian'an led the remaining few dozen core members of the th Brigade, after countless hardships, evading Japanese pursuit and the flood of fleeing troops, and following his father's final instructions, found this hidden Reed Marsh.

The scene before him tightened his heart. Five black‑canopy boats lay quietly in the shadows, but the surrounding water surface floated numerous corpses, both soldiers and civilians. Clearly this place was not absolutely safe; tragedies had occurred here before.

"Brigade Commander, the ship is still there!" a soldier whispered.

Li Nian'an nodded; he saw that the personnel responsible for reception on the boat were the few elite members left by Uncle Huang.

"Commander Li! Quick! Board the boat!" the boat captain lowered his voice and urged.

A narrow escape! The soldiers almost shouted with joy, but were immediately restrained by the officers' stern gazes.

"Quick! Board orderly! Wounded first!" Li Nian'an commanded, his heart unable to express the gratitude and complex emotions toward his father.

Just as the last group boarded and the vessel was about to leave the shore, a squad of Japanese patrol soldiers discovered them, howling as they charged, bullets whizzing into the boat's side and the water.

"Fire! Cover!" Li Nian'an lifted the light machine gun on the boat, sweeping the shore with heavy fire. The soldiers on the boat also raised their guns to return fire.

In the fierce exchange, the boat strained forward toward the river's heart. The Japanese chased to the water's edge, firing futilely.

Standing on the bow as it drifted farther away, Li Nian'an looked back at Jinling. The millennial ancient city now rose in thick smoke, gunshots, explosions, and faint, mournful cries blended into a hellish lament. On the City wall, the Sun Flag blazed brightly; he clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.